Department for Transport

Driving: Licensing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the EU Third Directive on Driving Licenses on the motorcycle assessment industry.

Andrew Jones: There has not been an assessment made of the effect of the EU Third Directive on Driving Licences (2006/126/EC) on the motorcycle assessment industry.

Department for Transport: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill: My Department is responsible for EU transport measures relating to Aviation, Roads, Maritime and Railways and other cross modal dossiers. The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committee.

Department for Transport: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The following EU Directives related to my Department’s responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law: Directive No:Directive title:2012/34/EUDIRECTIVE 2012/34/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 21 November 2012 establishing a single European railway area.2014/88/EUCommission Directive 2014/88/EU of 9 July 2014 amending Directive 2004/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards common safety indicators and common methods of calculating accident costs Text with EEA relevance.2013/55/EUDIRECTIVE 2013/55/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications and Regulation (EU) No 1024/2012 on administrative cooperation through the Internal Market Information System (‘the IMI Regulation’).2013/35/EUDirective 2013/35/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from physical agents (electromagnetic fields) (20th individual Directive within the meaning of Article 16(1) of Directive 89/391/EEC) and repealing Directive 2004/40/EC.2014/90/EUCommission Directive 2014/90/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on marine equipment and repealing Council Directive 96/98/EC.2014/94/EUDIRECTIVE 2014/94/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.2015/2087/EUAmending Annex II to Directive 2000/59/EC of the European Parliament and the Council on port reception facilities for ship-generated waste and cargo residues.EU 2014/112COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 2014/112 of 19 December 2014 implementing the European Agreement concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time in inland waterway transport.EU 2015652COUNCIL DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/652 of 20 April 2015 laying down calculation methods and reporting requirements pursuant to Directive 98/70/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels.EU 2015/719DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/719 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2015 amending Council Directive 96/53/EC laying down for certain road vehicles circulating within the Community the maximum authorised dimensions in national and international traffic and the maximum authorised weights in international traffic.EU 2015/413DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/413 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 March 2015 facilitating cross-border exchange of information on road-safety-related traffic offences.2014/52/EUDirective 2014/52/EU on the assessment of the effects of public and private projects on the environment.EU 2015/1513Co-decided (EU) Directive 2015/1513 amending Directive 98/70/EC on the quality of petrol and diesel fuels (and amending Directive 2009/28/EC on promotion of use of energy from renewable sources).EU 2015/1794DIRECTIVES ★ Directive (EU) 2015/1794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2015 amending Directives 2008/94/EC, 2009/38/EC and 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Council Directives 98/59/EC and 2001/23/EC, as regards seafarers.EU 2016/797DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/797 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 May 2016 on the interoperability of the rail system within the European Union (recast).EU 2016/798DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/798 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 May 2016 on railway safety (recast).EU 2016/844COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/844 of 27 May 2016 amending Directive 2009/45/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on safety rules and standards for passenger ships (Text with EEA relevance).EU 2016/882COMMISSION DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/882 of 1 June 2016 amending Directive 2007/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards language requirements (Text with EEA relevance).2014/45/EUDIRECTIVE 2014/45/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 3 April 2014 on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC (Text with EEA relevance.2014/46/EUDIRECTIVE 2014/46/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 3 April 2014 amending Council Directive 1999/37/EC on the registration documents for vehicles THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION.2014/47/EUDIRECTIVE 2014/47/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 3 April 2014 on the technical roadside inspection of the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles circulating in the Union and repealing Directive 2000/30/EC (Text with EEA relevance).

Govia Thameslink Railway

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2016 to Question 40384, on Govia Thameslink Railway, whether Ministers requested a copy of the modelling analysis after those discussions; whether minutes were taken of those discussions; what questions Ministers asked during those discussions; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Following the disruption to rail services at London Bridge early in 2015 I held discussions with Network Rail to understand the root cause and seek reassurance as to how to prevent similar occurrences. My officials subsequently discussed my concerns about the modelling analysis with Network Rail.

Railways: Bradford

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to Bradford of improvements to rail connectivity in and around the Bradford area.

Andrew Jones: The Government recognises the economic benefits of investing in transport and is committed to spend £13 billion on transport in the north of England which through the new franchises will provide more than 500 brand-new carriages, the removal of the outdated and unpopular Pacer trains, room for 40,000 extra passengers at the busiest times, and more than 2,000 extra services a week. As part of the North of England programme we are investing in journey time, capacity and connectivity improvements to give passengers more and faster services to and from Bradford. Specific improvements in improving connections to and from Bradford include: A new direct link to Wakefield, Sheffield, Chesterfield and Nottingham as part of the Northern Connect network, with at least 10 services per day in each direction operated by brand new diesel trains.One additional train per hour between Bradford Interchange and Leeds.Later trains to Bradford from Leeds.One extra train per hour to Manchester, with a significantly enhanced evening service and double the current hourly frequency on Sundays.New direct links to Liverpool, Chester, Warrington and Manchester Airport, with an hourly service to each using brand new trains as part of the Northern Connect network.Increased frequency on Sunday services from Bradford to Skipton and Ilkley, with hourly trainsSix additional trains to/from London.

Railways: Cost Effectiveness

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost benefit ratio was of each major railway scheme authorised by the Government since 2010.

Claire Perry: Benefit Cost Ratios are calculated at many points in time during the lifecycle of a project including to inform a number of specific decision points. Due to changes in appraisal guidance benefit cost ratios calculated at different points in time may not be directly comparable. The benefit cost ratios for major rail projects with a value over £1bn and currently in delivery are set out in the table. These are based on the BCR at final business case stage or more recently published information where available. The benefit cost ratio of these and other rail schemes will have changed since these assessments were undertaken. SchemeBenefit Cost Ratio (excluding Wider Economic Impacts)Date of AppraisalCrossrail1.97Jul-11IEP2.7Jan-12Thameslink1.42Mar-13

Railways: South East

Matthew Pennycook: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times staff of his Department and Transport for London met to further their joint work on better integrating the specification of rail passenger services across London and the South East since those proposals were announced on 21 January 2016.

Claire Perry: Staff of my department have been meeting with TfL staff several times a month to discuss the next steps on the Prospectus following its publication on 21st January. Most of this was to follow-up aspects of the Prospectus, including the stakeholder briefing for local authorities that the Department and TfL jointly organised in March, but some of these meetings have been about to consider options for the transfer of inner suburban services at franchise end dates.

Railways: Cost Effectiveness

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost benefit ratio was of the business case for (a) Crossrail, (b) High Speed 2 and (c) the Todmorden Curves.

Claire Perry: The latest central case estimate of the benefit cost ratio for the full HS2 Y-network, dating from November 2015 is 2.2. Excluding wider economic impacts (WEIs) it is 1.8. The benefit cost ratio for Crossrail was assessed in July 2011 and was estimated at 3.09. Excluding wider economic impacts the benefit cost ratio was estimated to be 1.97. The Todmorden curve was a locally promoted scheme that received funding through the Regional Growth Fund, the Department does not hold the information requested on this scheme.

Railways: Compensation

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 40383, whether the Government has the power under current delay repay infrastructure to allow people to claim compensation for 15-minute delays before it makes other planned improvements to compensation arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: All franchised Train Operating Companies (TOCs) are required under their franchise agreement to have in place a Passenger’s Charter which will include arrangements for compensation for passengers. TOCs can, at their discretion, go beyond the commitments in their Passenger’s Charter including on compensation on an ex gratia basis.

Roads: Isle of Sheppey

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effect of traffic lights on the A2500 on (a) traffic flows and (b) the economy and quality of life on the Isle of Sheppey; and if he will take steps to expedite the building of a new roundabout at the junction with Barton Hill Drive.

Andrew Jones: The design, installation and maintenance of traffic management measures including traffic lights and roundabouts are the responsibility of the local traffic authority, in this case Kent County Council. It is for them to determine which solution is appropriate for a particular road or junction, taking into account local circumstances. I am grateful to my Honourable Friend for raising this issue and have written to Kent County Council to ask them to respond to him directly on it.

West Coast Railway Line

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent steps his Department has taken to assist London Midland in tackling fare evasion on the West Coast Mainline.

Claire Perry: The Department funded a ticketless travel survey in Summer 2015 that highlighted to London Midland where there is lost revenue across their network. London Midland are obliged to maximise revenue in the franchise and it is in their interests to reduce ticketless travel. The public consultation that closed in February 2016 for the new West Midlands franchise asked for views on how ticketless travel can be improved for the next franchise that is due to commence in October 2017.

Bus Services: Complaints

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the process for bus passengers to register complaints.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on establishing a statutory independent body representing bus users.

Andrew Jones: There is already an independent body, Bus Users UK who champion the needs of bus and coach passengers and ensure that they are aware of the correct procedures to register complaints effectively. Bus Users UK also work closely with bus operators to promote better standards and to resolve individual passenger complaints.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Communities and Local Government: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Mr Mark Francois: The following Directives are awaiting transposition by DCLG into UK law:Elements of Directive 2013/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 November 2013 amending Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications that relate to architects.Directive 2014/52/EU amending Directive 2011/92/EU on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (“the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive”).

Communities and Local Government: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Mr Mark Francois: The Department for Communities and Local Government is not leading on EU negotiations, legislative or otherwise for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Local Government: Pension Funds

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in what circumstances he plans to exercise his power to issue a directive to a local government pension scheme on the investment of their funds.

Mr Marcus Jones: The draft regulations published for consultation in November proposed that the power of intervention may be exercised in cases where, on the basis of evidence and after consultation with relevant bodies, we believe that an administering authority is failing to act in accordance with any guidance issued under the draft regulations. For example, the power could be used where an administering authority did not follow the guidance and criteria on pooling of assets, also published in November.No final decision has been taken on the draft regulations. The Govenrment's response to the consultation will be published shortly.

Housing: Torridge and West Devon

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many small applications for house-building have been made in Torridge and West Devon constituency since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: Separate figures for the numbers of planning applications received for house-building are not collected by the department. Figures are, however, available on the number of decisions made: these show that 1,224 decisions were made on applications for minor housing developments within the Torridge and West Devon constituency between 1 January 2010 and 31 March 2016. Minor housing developments are defined as those including fewer than ten dwellings and where the site has an area of less than one hectare.

Owner Occupation: Bradford

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of home ownership among young people in Bradford since 2010.

Brandon Lewis: The department does not produce local authority level estimates of home ownership and cannot therefore make an assessment of trends in the level of home ownership among young people in Bradford.

Affordable Housing: Bradford

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on the total stock of affordable homes in Bradford.

Brandon Lewis: The Housing and Planning Act will help more people buy their own home and ensure that we are making best use of our social housing stock. It will also get the nation building homes faster, by giving house builders and decision makers the tools and confidence to deliver more homes.The Act sets out that planning authorities have a duty to promote the supply of starter homes and the starter homes requirements in the planning system. Local authorities will still be able to seek other forms of affordable housing in addition to the starter homes requirement where it would be viable.The impact assessment for the Housing and Planning Bill can be found here:http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/housingandplanning/documents.html

Housing: Construction

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the number of small housing applications that are declined on the basis that they are unsustainable.

Brandon Lewis: We do not hold information centrally on why permissions for small sites are refused. Each planning application for development is determined in line with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise, taking account of the relevant planning matters and the views of the local community. Small sites play an important contribution to meeting overall housing need. In the year to March 2016, planning permission was granted for 40,000 dwellings on sites of less than 10 units, up 3% on the year to March 2015.The planning system has strong levers in place to support the delivery of small sites, including through strong national planning policy and extensive permitted development rights. Through the Housing and Planning Act we have introduced further proposals which will help provide greater opportunities for small-and medium-sized companies to enter the development market, promote custom build development and make effective use of developable land.

Housing: Rural Areas

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that small villages and towns have sufficient housing to meet demand.

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the Government's housing policy on the ability of smaller housing applications in rural villages to succeed.

Brandon Lewis: We believe that meeting the housing needs of rural communities is vitally important.The National Planning Policy Framework rightly asks local planning authorities to identify and plan to meet the needs of their communities. It is for local planning authorities, in consultation with local people, to use their evidence base to ensure they plan to meet their housing need, shaping where development should and shouldn’t go, through an up to date Local Plan. Over 85,000 affordable homes have been provided in rural local authorities in England between April 2010 and March 2015.Budget 2016 announced a £60 million fund to help bring forward community-led housing developments in rural and coastal communities. This fund will target those areas which are particularly affected by the impact of second homes. We will be announcing further details on how the fund will be allocated shortly.The Homes and Communities Agency and my officials meet regularly with those working to deliver homes in rural communities to discuss the provision of affordable rural housing.

Cornish Language

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the revival of the Cornish language.

James Wharton: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green on 12 May to Question UIN 36737.

Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40701, what estimate he has made of the number of housing association properties sold through right-to-buy which have been replaced since the launch of that policy.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon Member to my response of 29 June to Question UIN 40701.

Homelessness

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to tackle increases in levels of street homelessness in (a) Bristol and (b) England.

Mr Marcus Jones: One person without a home is one too many. That is why we have increased central investment to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million. This includes £10 million to support innovative ways to prevent and reduce rough sleeping, building on the success of our No Second Night Out initiative.We are also developing a new national £10 million Social Impact Bond fund to help homeless people with the most complex needs move off the streets. It will build on our investment in the world’s first homelessness Social Impact Bond in London.As well as this, we will also be launching an additional £100 million programme for low-cost move on accommodation, including for rough sleepers leaving hostels.We are determined to ensure that we prevent more people from becoming homeless in the first place so we are working with local authorities, homelessness charities and across departments to consider options, including legislation, to prevent more people from becoming homeless.

Coal: Mining

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account he has taken of the Government's policy to end unabated coal in framing National Planning Policy Framework guidelines on the approval of new coal extraction projects.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Energy and Climate Change will be launching a consultation on how to fulfil the Government's commitment to phase out existing unabated coal as an energy source for power stations shortly. The National Planning Policy Framework and planning practice guidance, sets the planning framework for mineral planning authorities to assess applications for the extraction of coal, they do not address the specific uses of coal.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Turkey: Politics and Government

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of Turkish members of parliament being verbally abused, physically assaulted and threatened with murder within the parliament of that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington: Holding answer received on 27 June 2016



The Government is aware of disturbances in the Turkish parliament which took place in the context of its decision to lift parliamentary immunities for MPs. We continue to stress that, as a modern democracy, we would expect Turkey, following the lifting of immunity, to undertake any subsequent legal processes transparently and fully respect the rule of law.

Mediterranean Sea: Refugees

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the potential role of the UK in reducing the number of people trying to cross the Mediterranean in dangerous circumstances; and what plans he has to tackle the issue of deaths in the Mediterranean of people attempting to make that crossing.

Mr David Lidington: The Government’s focus is on addressing the root causes of irregular migration so as to reduce the need for people to make perilous journeys to Europe. We have taken action to tackle smugglers and save lives at sea: HMS Enterprise is deployed as part of the EU’s counter migration operation, Operation Sophia. The UK has rescued almost 18,000 people, and disrupted suspected people smugglers, in the Mediterranean since 2015. At the G7 Summit in Japan on 27 May, the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), announced that the UK will work on a plan to boost the capability of the Libyan coastguard to stem the flow of illegal migration across the Mediterranean into Europe. Following adoption of the UN Security Council Resolution 2292 on 14 June, we are working with EU partners to ensure Op Sophia can begin its new taskings as soon as possible, including capacity building for the Libyan Coastguard. As the Prime Minister announced following the June European Council, RFA Mounts Bay will also be deployed to stop the flow of weapons to terrorists, particularly Daesh, in Libya. As the Prime Minister also said at the G7, the UK stands ready to deploy an additional naval vessel to the South Central Mediterranean.

Diplomatic Service: Malaria

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what advice his Department gives to staff of HM Diplomatic Service (a) visiting and (b) posted to malaria-prone countries on use of anti-malarial drugs; whether the Lariam form of mefloquine has been included in a list of approved anti-malarial drugs for staff of his Department; if he will publish the (i) guidelines and (ii) other advice given on anti-malarial drugs to his Department's staff since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The choice of anti-malarials for Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service Staff and dependants serving overseas has always been based on a stringent individual risk assessment. Recommended anti-malarials will be based on the UK Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention ( ACMP) guidelines, they will be appropriate for the destination and tailored to the individual, taking into account the possible risks and benefits to the traveller.

China: Human Rights

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reason the latest round of the UK-China human rights dialogue has not yet taken place; and when he last raised the holding of that dialogue with his Chinese counterparts.

Mr Hugo Swire: We are currently discussing dates for the next round of the Dialogue with the Chinese. I last discussed the importance of the Dialogue with the Chinese Ambassador on 27 June.

Tibet: Population

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information his Department holds on the proportion of (a) native Tibetans, (b) Han Chinese and (c) other people who were resident in Tibet in (i) 2015, (ii) 2005 and (iii) 1995.

Mr Hugo Swire: None.

Tibet: Conditions of Employment

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of workers' rights for Tibetans working in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Government regards the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We consistently urge China to respect all fundamental rights across the PRC, including in Tibet, in line with both its own constitution and the international frameworks to which it is a party. We have made no specific assessment of the workers’ rights of Tibetans. However, as the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), told the House on 12 January 2016, Official Report, column 694, we will be raising the issue of labour activists at the next round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue.

Tibet: Overseas Aid

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what development assistance his Department provides to native Tibetans in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Government regards the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) as part of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). We do not provide any development assistance through specific projects in the TAR. Across China, the UK supports projects over a range of priority areas, including torture prevention, abolition of the death penalty, promotion of civil society and of women’s rights. As set out in the FCO’s annual report on human rights and democracy, we assess that our interventions have led to positive change.

Tibet: Conditions of Employment

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will ask the International Labour Organisation to assess the adequacy of (a) native Tibetan and (b) other workers' rights in Tibet against internationally agreed standards and agreements to which the Chinese government is a signatory.

Mr Hugo Swire: As the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), told the House on 12 January 2016, Official Report, column 694, we will be raising the issue of labour activists at the next round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue. This will address workers’ rights across the People's Republic of China, including the Tibetan Autonomous Region. We will consult a range of relevant stakeholders ahead of that Dialogue.

Iran: Detainees

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the circumstances that led to the detention of Mr Jafar Azimzadeh of the Iranian Workers' Rights Organisation and his access to medical treatment while in detention.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of media reports of the detention of Mr Jafar Azimzadeh. Whilst we have made no specific representations, we regularly raise human rights issues with Iran. We have no information on his medical treatment in detention.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

Imran Hussain: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his (a) foreign counterparts and (b) cabinet colleagues on recent reports of border clashes between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

James Duddridge: We are concerned over recent reports of fighting between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces along the border near Tsorena. I made a statement on 16 June calling on both countries to exercise restraint and to adhere to the terms of the Algiers Agreement. We have also made clear to Ethiopia and Eritrea that they should engage in meaningful political discourse to seek a resolution to the ongoing border issues. Officials have discussed the clashes with our partners in Europe and at the UN, many of whom share our concerns and have made similar calls for restraint.

USA: Entry Clearances

Danny Kinahan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the US State Department on changes to the US visa waiver programme affecting people who have visited Iraq since 2011.

Mr Hugo Swire: While US immigration processes are a matter for the US authorities, we have raised with the US administration the importance of clearly communicating changes to their immigration policy. We remain in close contact with the US Embassy in order to avoid inconvenience to British nationals travelling to the US.The Secretary of State for Home Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) raised migration issues with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson in Washington on 17 February.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request that the UN Human Rights Council establishes an international commission of inquiry to investigate alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Yemen by all parties to the conflict in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The UK supported a UN Human Rights Council resolution in October 2015, which called on the UN to provide technical assistance to the Government of Yemen, assist the Yemeni National Independent Commission of Inquiry, and report back to the next session of the Human Rights Council in September. The UK welcomes Yemen’s commitment to cooperate with the UN on protection of human rightsWe are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by actors in the conflict and take these very seriously. It is important that all sides conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into all incidents where it is alleged that IHL has been breached. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with International Humanitarian Law with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military Coalition. The Saudis have their own internal procedures for investigations and they announced more detail of how they investigate such incidents of concern on 31 January.

Yemen: Armed Conflict

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what humanitarian assistance the UK is providing to Taiz in Yemen; and whether his Department is engaging in negotiations to end the blockade of that city.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The ongoing conflict is making humanitarian access within Taiz city extremely difficult. The UK is the 4th largest donor to Yemen and we have more than doubled our commitment over the last financial year to £85 million. The UK works with trusted and impartial partners, such as UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations who prioritise areas of greatest need such as Taiz, and have good access and a strong track record of delivering and monitoring assistance in difficult places. The UK strongly supports the work of UN Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and his efforts to get the Yemeni parties to agree to a political solution which is the best way to bring long-term stability to the whole of Yemen, improve humanitarian access, and address the dire humanitarian situation.

Northern Ireland Office

Electoral Register: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40440, on electoral register: Northern Ireland, if she will carry out an assessment of the effect on Northern Irish voters of the decision not to apply the extension to Northern Ireland.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Electoral Commission will review and report on the management and conduct of the EU Referendum later this year.

Political Parties: Northern Ireland

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will take steps to accelerate the public disclosure of donations to political parties in Northern Ireland; and if she will give reasons for the time taken to date.

Mr Ben Wallace: The Government is committed to ensuring the maximum level of transparency in relation to party funding in Northern Ireland that the security situation allows. The Northern Ireland Office has been working closely with the Electoral Commission to bring forward secondary legislation to provide for greater transparency. This legislation has raised some complex issues and NIO officials will be working closely with the Commission in the weeks ahead to resolve these issues with a view to bringing this legislation before Parliament.

Attorney General

Attorney General: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Attorney General, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals the Law Officers' Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Jeremy Wright: The Law Officers’ Departments are not leading any negotiations for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Attorney General: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Attorney General, what EU directives related to the Law Officers' Departments' responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Jeremy Wright: There are no EU directives awaiting transposition into UK law for which the Law Officers’ Departments are responsible.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Overseas Students: EU Nationals

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what projections have been made of the number of EU students in receipt of student loans likely to be studying in England in (a) 2020, (b) 2030 and (c) 2040.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 09 June 2016



The latest estimate of the number of EU students in England in receipt of undergraduate full and part-time fee loans is 45,000 in 2015/16. The Government recognises the important contribution that international students make to the UK. Their presence brings an international outlook and diversity to UK university campuses, benefiting UK students and long term UK links post-graduation.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is responsible for a wide range of EU business, including measures relating to the Single Market; consumer protection; labour markets; research, innovation and higher education; trade; and state aid.The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals from the Commission, including those which would be negotiated in Council in accordance with the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committees. These can be found online.

British Home Stores

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK's trade relationship with (a) Bangladesh and (b) other Commonwealth countries of BHS going into administration.

Anna Soubry: We have made no specific assessments.Bangladesh is the second largest manufacturer of garments around the world after China, at $26 billion per annum and ready-made garments make up around 81% of total merchandise exports from Bangladesh. If business is lost to Bangladesh from BHS, it is unlikely to have a significant impact at the national level.

Work Experience

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to gather data on the prevalence of paid and unpaid internships.

Nick Boles: The Government has no current plans to quantify the number of paid and unpaid interns. There is no legal definition of an intern, but all those who qualify as ‘workers’ are entitled to the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage.

Work Experience

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on introducing a legal or standard definition of an internship.

Nick Boles: The Government has no plans to create a legal or standard definition of an internship.Depending on the reality of the employment relationship an intern could be classed as a worker, an employee or a volunteer.

Apprentices: Special Educational Needs

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to provide additional support to people with special educational needs so that they may better access apprenticeships.

Nick Boles: Supported internships offer young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities a clear pathway into employment, including apprenticeships, by equipping them with the skills they need for work. Since September 2013, all qualified post-16 education providers in England can deliver supported internships.To encourage employers to hire apprentices, the Government funds apprenticeship training for all 16-18 year olds. This level of funding is extended for apprentices who have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHC Plan) aged 19-24. Apprentices aged 19 to 24 without an EHC Plan, who have a learning difficulty and/or disability, can benefit from additional funding through Learning Support.A Taskforce, led by my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard), has been looking at issues around apprenticeships for people with learning difficulties or disabilities. Ministers are currently considering its recommendations.

Apprentices: Graduates

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward proposals to enable people who have previously undertaken university education to be eligible for funded apprenticeships.

Nick Boles: Currently the apprenticeship funding rules allow a university graduate to take an apprenticeship standard at a higher level than their current qualification. Further detail on the proposed funding rules that will apply from 2017-18 will be published shortly.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Joseph Johnson: The Department's purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

Iron and Steel: China

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he plans to take to prevent the dumping of Chinese steel in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Iron and Steel: Tees Valley

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that the investment in the long-products steel works in Teesside will be secure in the event of the UK exiting the EU.

Anna Soubry: The Government’s top priority for steel has not changed in the light of the EU referendum. The process for selling Tata Steel’s remaining UK assets remains ongoing and we continue to work closely with Tata and potential bidders so that we can secure a sustainable future. More widely, we are committed to working closely with the UK steel sector through the Steel Council to maximize the opportunities and mitigate the potential impacts. On 28 June, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and I held a special round table of business leaders, including the Chair of the Steel Council, to explore post referendum issues.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40727, if his Department will increase the number of its employees based in Coventry in the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson: In the answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40727 the reference to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) in the answer was specifically to BIS HQ and not any of its agencies. BIS has no plans to increase the number of HQ employees in Coventry, given the decision to move to a single HQ and policy centre based in London. The Skills Funding Agency has a significant presence in Coventry and our estate plans include a further education funding centre whose final location is yet to be decided but will initially be in Coventry.

Young People: Minimum Wage

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to raise the rate of the national minimum wage for people under 25 to the rate of the national living wage.

Nick Boles: The priority for younger workers is to secure work and gain experience so that they can compete in the labour market.The wages of younger workers will continue to be underpinned by the National Minimum Wage as recommended by the Low Pay Commission at the highest possible level without costing jobs.Earlier this year the Government accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendations to increase rate for 21-24 year olds to £6.95 per hour - the largest single increase in the main rate of the NMW since 2008 in cash terms.

Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications of the EU referendum result for his plans to implement the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

Ms Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications of the EU referendum result for his plans to agree and implement the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

Anna Soubry: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Department for International Development: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Mr Nick Hurd: The Department's purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

Development Aid

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39301, whether there is a timetable in place for other departments to establish and implement their plans to monitor official development assistance spending.

Mr Nick Hurd: HM Treasury will commission 5-year Official Development Assistance spending plans from all departments. The departmental plans are expected to be finalised by the end of the calendar year.

Development Aid

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39301, what systems are in place for departments and funds spending official development assistance (ODA) to provide accurate and timely information on their ODA spending to her Department.

Mr Nick Hurd: All departments or funds spending official development assistance (ODA) are responsible for ensuring they provide accurate and timely information on their ODA to the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID provides on-going support on data collection, and collates the information for in-year monitoring of ODA and the final reporting of UK ODA statistics.

Palestinians: Overseas Aid

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided to Palestine in the last two years; and what assessment she has made of the results of such assistance.

Sir Desmond Swayne: DFID provided almost £157 million to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) between 2014/15 and 2015/16 to help build Palestinian institutions, deliver basic services and promote economic development. DFID has either met or exceeded the majority of its targets for programmes in the OPTs.DFID supported over 390 companies to improve their operations and increase competitiveness. In each of the two years, through UNRWA support, over 26,000 families received social transfers (either food or cash) and almost 45,000 children were provided basic education. Furthermore, over 1.6 million medical consultations were provided over the two years.In addition to this support, the UK provided more than £17m in immediate humanitarian assistance for those affected by the Gaza conflict in the summer of 2014. Non-food Item (NFI) packages were provided for 23,400 families covering their needs for three months.

Department for Education

Reading: Teaching Methods

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish the pass rates for the year one phonics screening check by the birth month of the pupils.

Nick Gibb: We will publish phonics results for Year 1 pupils by month of birth at national level for 2016. The data will be published at the end of September in a statistical first release at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-key-stage-1

Department for Education: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals her Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Nick Gibb: The Department for Education is not leading any negotiations in the Council of the EU. The Government Equalities Office is leading negotiations for the Government on a proposal for a Council Directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation.

Department for Education: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what EU directives related to her Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Nick Gibb: There are no EU directives relating to the Department for Education’s responsibilities that are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Parents: Hearing Impaired

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that deaf parents receive adequate support so that they can participate in their children's schooling and all related school activities undertaken by parents.

Edward Timpson: The Public Sector Equality Duty (at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010) requires public bodies, and those carrying out public functions, such as schools, to have due regard to the following aims when designing policies and delivering services:eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010advance equality of opportunity, and;foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic and those who do not.This includes discrimination against people with a disability, such as deafness. Public bodies must be able to show how equality issues have been considered when they develop, implement, evaluate and review policies, services and processes.We are committed to ensuring all parents have a more significant voice in all schools. Through the new Parent Portal, we will ensure parents have access to clear and simple information about the school system and how to support their child. This will work alongside the new performance tables website which is making it easier for parents to find out how well their child’s school is performing and to compare schools across a range of key measures.

Children: Palliative Care

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that local authorities provide sufficient short breaks to children with life-shortening conditions in England.

Edward Timpson: Since 2011, local authorities have been under a duty to provide a range of short breaks services and to publish a local Short Breaks Duty Statement showing what services are available, how they are responding to the needs of local parent carers, and how short breaks can be accessed, including any eligibility criteria. Local authorities are responsible for funding this short breaks provision.Between April 2011 and March 2015, the government made available £800 million to local authorities for short break provision, along with an additional £80 million of capital funding for equipment and infrastructure.Between April 2015 and March 2016, we awarded £250,555 to the Short Breaks Partnership (a consortium made up of Contact a Family, the Council for Disabled Children, Action for Children, and KIDS) to provide information and advice to those involved in designing, commissioning, providing, and taking up short breaks for disabled children. The Department for Education has allocated £200m funding over the next 4 years to support innovation and improvement to children’s social work practice. We are currently considering how we can use some of this funding to support local innovative approaches to short breaks for disabled children and their families and for making services more accessible.The Department’s Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Advisory Team is continuing to offer support and challenge to local authorities to help make sure they meet all of their statutory requirements and that quality continues to improve. From this summer, there will be opportunities through the new Ofsted/Care Quality Commission SEND inspections framework for local areas to consider how well they are providing for the education, health and care needs of those with SEND, including their need for short breaks services. In addition, Together for Short lives, the UK charity for children and young people with life limiting conditions, received £551,029 from the Department for Education over a 3 year period – between April 2013 and March 2016, to help ensure children and young people with life limiting conditions benefited from the SEND reforms.

Teachers: Training

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which schools in Slough are partner schools for Teach First.

Nick Gibb: Teach First currently has two cohorts of trainees participating in its two year Leadership Development Programme in Slough. They are placed in the following schools:Foxborough Primary SchoolMarish Primary SchoolMontem AcademySt Anthony's Catholic Primary SchoolSt Ethelbert's Catholic Primary SchoolSlough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise CollegeWexham Court Primary SchoolWillow Primary School

Department for Education: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Nick Gibb: The Department's purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

Schools: East Midlands

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to improve under-performing schools in the East Midlands.

Edward Timpson: Eighty two percent of all schools in the East Midlands region are rated as Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, but there remain pockets of underperformance, and we are taking a range of actions to tackle them. The Education and Adoption Act gives us powers to intervene more quickly in failing schools and to tackle for the first time schools that have been coasting. Where a maintained school is judged inadequate by Ofsted it will immediately receive an academy order, leading to a sponsor taking responsibility for improving standards. The Act also provides consistent powers to take action in inadequate academies and the Regional Schools Commissioner for the East Midlands and Humber will not hesitate to intervene when academies under-perform.We are also creating Achieving Excellence Areas in areas such as the East Midlands to create rapid and sustainable improvement. Further details are set out in: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/educational-excellence-everywhere

Academies

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department places any limits on (a) the pay of academy chains' chief executives and (b) payments to consultants.

Edward Timpson: Academy trusts are responsible for making their own spending decisions including for consultancy and the salaries they set for staff, although we would expect pay to reflect the size and complexity of the trust. As public bodies trusts must secure value for money. They have transparency obligations which means they must publish annual accounts making clear how much they pay school leaders.

Ministry of Justice

Female Genital Mutilation: Prosecutions

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prosecutions there have been under legislation on female genital mutilation.

Caroline Dinenage: There has been one prosecution under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 since it came into force.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister: Correspondence

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to respond to the letter on Syria from Medics Under Fire which was delivered to 10 Downing Street on 20 May 2016.

Mr David Cameron: A reply has been sent.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for measures relating to the telecoms single market; the digital single market; data protection; network information security; cultural objects.The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committees, which can be found online.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Department of Culture, Media and Sport is currently transposing the following Directives:Network information Security Directive - by Summer 2018Broadband Cost Reduction Directive - by July 1 2016Directive on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and the free movement of such data - by 6 May 2018

Gambling

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of linking the annual financial contribution of gambling licence holders for research into, prevention of and treatment for gambling addiction linked to their profit margins.

Tracey Crouch: I refer the Hon Member to the answer to PQ 40986.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Maggie Throup: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the introduction of small scale DAB licensing for community radio stations.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The ten small scale DAB technical trials funded by DCMS have been positive with more than 80 smaller commercial and community radio stations broadcasting on DAB for the first time, including some new services. We are looking at options for new legislation to license small scale DAB multiplexes.

Local Press

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the local newspaper industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: As the Secretary of State has stated previously, local papers are the bread and butter of journalism - they part of the communities they serve, and people rely on and respect them. In our manifesto, we committed to consulting on the introduction of a business rates relief for local newspapers in England, which was launched in summer 2015. In the March 2016 Budget, the government announced that local newspapers will be eligible for a business rates discount for two years from April 2017. We are confident that this will help local newspapers maintain a presence on the local high street.Our recently published BBC White Paper, 'A BBC for the future: a broadcaster of distinction', sets our our expectation for the BBC to enjoy a positive partnership with the local news sector. The News Media Association (NMA) and the BBC have been working together to develop proposals and good progress has been made in agreeing the principles of a service that will see the BBC providing some funding for local journalists to provide reporting for news providers. These plans will be implemented in consultation with the industry.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department for Work and Pensions is leading on one set of negotiations on the following EU proposal:Directive 2004/37/EC - Proposal to amend the Directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens or mutagens at work.

Department for Work and Pensions: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Justin Tomlinson: The following EU directives are undergoing transposition by the Department for Work and Pensions: Directive 2014/50/EU on minimum requirements for enhancing worker mobility between Member States by improving the acquisition and preservation of supplementary pension rights. Directive 2013/59/Euratom on laying down basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation.

Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 5 of Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessments: Mandatory reconsideration registrations, decisions and outcomes statistics, published in June 2016, how many of the mandatory reconsideration decisions not received by his Department's decision-maker were appealed at the First Tier tribunal; and how many of those appeals were successful.

Justin Tomlinson: The information is not available at this time. The data is being collated and will be published in due course.

Food Banks

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies on benefits eligibility of the conclusion in the University of Hull report, entitled Mapping hunger, published in April 2016, that food bank use is highest in areas with people in skilled manual work or where more people are unable to work due to long-term sickness or disability.

Justin Tomlinson: This government is determined to move to a higher wage society, introducing the new National Living Wage that will benefit over 1 million workers directly this year, and spending £80 billion on working age benefits to ensure a strong safety net for those who need it most. We are also committed to supporting people with disabilities and currently spend a record £50 billion a year doing so.There are no plans to amend our reforms that are ensuring that work always pays and are restoring fairness for hardworking taxpayers. As the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger noted, the reasons why people use food banks can be complex and are frequently overlapping. Their use cannot be attributed to a single cause.Our welfare system provides a strong safety net to those who need extra support.

Food Banks

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to monitor the provision and use of food banks.

Priti Patel: There are no plans for my Department to monitor the use of food banks. This is because as the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger noted that the reasons why people use food banks can be complex and are frequently overlapping. Their use cannot be attributed to a single cause.

Department for Work and Pensions: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department's purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

Social Security Benefits

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people transferred from working tax credit to (a) jobseeker's allowance and (b) employment and support allowance in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Oliver Dowden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discretion his Department has to waive rules on non-payment of housing benefit to people with savings over a prescribed amount for (a) looked after adults, (b) vulnerable adults and (c) adults with disabilities.

Justin Tomlinson: The capital limit of £16,000 applies to all Housing Benefit claimants, other than those on the guarantee element of Pension Credit.While it is important to encourage saving, it has been the consistent policy of successive governments that substantial amounts of capital should not be ignored altogether when deciding entitlement to benefits which are based on need.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals her Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

George Eustice: Defra is responsible for measures relating to the environment, food, plant and animal health and agriculture.The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the Parliamentary EU Scrutiny Committees, which can be found online.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what EU directives related to her Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

George Eustice: As of 30 June, there are currently 15 EU directives awaiting transposition into UK law. These are detailed in the table below.DirectiveTitle2013/51/EURATOMDirective 2013/51/EURATOM of 22 October 2013 laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption.2014/97/EUCommission Implementing Directive 2014/97/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards the registration of suppliers and of varieties and the common list of varieties.2014/99/EUCommission Directive 2014/99/EU of 21 October 2014 amending, for the purposes of its adaptation to technical progress, Directive 2009/126/EC on Stage II petrol vapour recovery during refuelling of motor vehicles at service stations.2015/1127/EUCommission Directive (EU) 2015/1127 of 10 July 2015 amending Annex II to Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste and repealing certain Directives.2014/89/EUCommission Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of July 2014 establishing Aa framework for maritime spatial planning.2014/96/EUCommission Implementing Directive 2014/96/EU of 15 October 2014 on the requirements for the labelling, sealing and packaging of fruit plant propagating material and fruit plants intended for fruit production, falling within the scope of Council Directive 2008/90/EC.2014/98/EUCommission Implementing Directive 2014/98/EU of 15 October 2014 implementing Council Directive 2008/90/EC as regards specific requirements for the genus and species of fruit plants referred to in Annex I thereto, specific requirements to be met by suppliers and detailed rules concerning official inspections.2015/412/EUCommission Directive 2015/412/EU of 11 March 2015 amending Directive 2001/18/EC as regards the possibility for the Member States to restrict or prohibit the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in their territory.2015/996/EUCommission Directive (EU) 2015/996 of 19 May 2015 establishing common noise assessment methods according to Directive 2002/49/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.2015/1480/EUCommission Directive (EU) 2015/1480 of 28 August 2015 amending several annexes to Directives 2004/107/EC and 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the rules concerning reference methods, data validation and location of sampling points for the assessment of ambient air quality.2015/1787/EUCommission Directive (EU) 2015/1787 of 6 October 2015 amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption2015/1955/EUCommission Implementing Directive 2015/1955 of 29 October 2015 Amending Annexes I and II to Council Directive on the marketing of cereal seed.2015/2193/EUDirective (EU) 2015/2193 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from medium combustion plants.2016/11/EUCommission Implementing Directive 2016/11 of 5 January 2016 amending Annex II to Council Directive 2002/57/EC on the marketing of seed oil and fibre plants.2016/317/EUCommission Implementing Directive (EU) 2016/317 of 3 March 2016 amending Council Directives 66/401/EEC, 66/402/EEC, 2002/54/EC, 2002/55/EC, 2002/56/EC and 2002/57/EC as regards the official label of seed packages.

Forests: Dorset

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what public consultation the Forestry Commission has carried out on the future ownership and use of the Cannon Hill plantation in Ferndown, Dorset.

Rory Stewart: We are committed to keeping the public forest estate in England in trust for the nation and for it to continue to be sustainably managed. The Forestry Commission has not carried out any public consultation on the ownership of Cannon Hill plantation. The Forest Design Plan approved in 2009, which sets out how the area is to be managed, would have been the subject of a public consultation during the preparation and approval process.

Forests: Dorset

Mr Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether it is the policy of the Forestry Commission to sell the Cannon Hill plantation in Ferndown, Dorset for development.

Rory Stewart: We are committed to keeping the public forest estate in England, including Cannon Hill plantation, in trust for the nation and for it to continue to be sustainably managed by the Forestry Commission.

Dangerous Dogs: Prosecutions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many successful prosecutions there have been under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The number of successful prosecutions under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 in each of the last five years can be found in the tables attached. The information was obtained in the document “Outcomes by Offence Tables” as part of the criminal justice system quarterly statistics available on the GOV.UK website.



Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 - offences
(PDF Document, 186.56 KB)

Dog Fighting: Prosecutions

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many convictions there have been for dog fighting in each of the last two years; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: Eight offenders were found guilty at all courts of offences related to dog fighting in England and Wales in 2015. This information was obtained from a manual review of court case files that centrally held data indicated may be relevant, and as such has not been through the same quality assurance processes as for routinely published data. These figures relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of offences related to dog fighting in England and Wales in 2014 was disclosed in PQ 9486, linked below, in September 2015 as requested by my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley:http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-09-08/9486/

Home Office

Visas

Kirsty Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications for visitor visas from each country were accepted in the most recent year for which records are available.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is given in the table below:Entry clearance visa cases resolved in 2015 by nationality:visitor visas (including dependants).of which Country of nationalityResolved/DecisionsGranted% Granted All nationalities2,225,3391,914,07286% of which   China421,302397,76494% India411,576367,24389% Nigeria131,54088,36767% Russia114,383109,71796% Saudi Arabia104,555103,53499% Turkey96,82489,66593% South Africa92,27490,78898% Pakistan90,41444,98950% Kuwait87,48486,99199% Thailand61,79058,00094% Egypt40,83032,86981% Philippines40,31535,86789% Ukraine34,65927,67180% Indonesia33,25331,91196% Ghana26,53315,25157% Sri Lanka24,19917,72273% Colombia23,41322,63697% Bangladesh21,7139,38943% Algeria21,29014,85170% Lebanon17,75014,93084% Kenya14,99712,82285% Morocco14,82713,11588% Jordan14,37111,89783% Iran14,2558,15257% Vietnam13,67411,82286% Kazakhstan12,98812,42996% Serbia11,89610,85891% Bahrain10,95510,77898% Zimbabwe9,8846,28764% Venezuela9,8738,82389% Iraq9,4192,71729% Belarus9,1018,57794% Qatar8,2888,23899% Azerbaijan7,3776,81392% Nepal7,2925,23572% United Arab Emirates7,2637,240100% Jamaica7,1014,99570% Albania6,7324,68170% Peru6,6966,37295% Sudan6,1832,41439% Uganda5,9684,04168% Tunisia5,7384,87185% Georgia5,3624,16978% Refugee5,2903,70270% Syria4,9411,26626% Tanzania4,7964,14186% Kosovo4,4163,11671% Cameroon4,0942,77168% Occupied Palestinian Territories3,8352,22458% Angola3,6652,69774% Zambia3,5863,01084% Ecuador3,4233,20794% Ethiopia3,1422,23871% Macedonia3,1342,73987% Congo (Democratic Republic)2,9611,45749% Uzbekistan2,7782,07675% Yemen2,71168925% Libya2,6271,12143% Bosnia and Herzegovina2,5502,15685% Gambia, The2,5441,06342% Burma2,5051,92677% Sierra Leone2,4521,54563% Afghanistan2,39398141% Armenia2,3562,23795%*United States2,0651,50073% Ivory Coast1,9981,34667% Other and unknown1,9861,38770% Cuba1,8471,55884% Senegal1,6651,01661% Mongolia1,6641,40785% Dominican Republic1,6551,52492% Malawi1,6181,31681% Oman1,2561,23598% Moldova1,24692074% Cambodia1,04283280% Montenegro1,02794492% Fiji1,00487887% Bolivia98490192% Mozambique97585287% Guyana90973481%*Hong Kong88177188% Kyrgyzstan87772483% Turkmenistan82369284% Rwanda81366882%*Australia74062785% Guinea64937257% Congo62439263% Eritrea58322138%*Brazil56542275% Laos49040783%*Canada44435380% Benin40727568% Madagascar39334488% Mali38826067% Togo34121764% Somalia33812938% Liberia33021866% Swaziland31829492%*Japan30627490% Tajikistan30623878% Gabon30224982% Burkina29523379% Haiti26523087%*Malaysia26420879% Comoros26219976% Sudan (South)24816667%*Korea (South)23721792% Lesotho23221291% Cyprus22513660% Taiwan21720394% Stateless21415171%*New Zealand20816378% Djibouti18210658% Burundi18112368% Mauritania17214785%*Mexico14310976% Bhutan12611390% Chad1249173% Niger1248569% Surinam12010890% Guinea-Bissau1155850% Cape Verde1076763%*Israel1057269% Other nationalities77851566%Grand Total2,225,3391,914,07286%Notes   *Non-visa national. Such nationalities do not normally require a visa to enter the UK as a visitor for stays of less than 6 monthsProportion of visitor visas granted relate to visas for which a decision was made in 2015, and may include cases where applications were made in 2014Data based on nationality as recorded; data shown for nationalites with at least 100 cases decided Source:   Immigration Statistics January-March 2016, visas volume 1 table vi_01_q and corresponding datasets.   The proportion granted varies by nationality reflecting a number of factors, including the evidence submitted in individual applications, whether applicants are eligible, and UKVI’s assessment of whether an applicant is a genuine visitor. Detailed information on how UK Visas and Immigration makes decisions on visitor cases is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visit-guidance The latest quarterly Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas are published in ‘Immigration Statistics’, available from the Home Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/migration-statistics

Home Office: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what EU directives related to her Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is responsible for a number of Directives that are yet to be transposed into UK law:Directive 2014/41/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 April 2014 regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters;Directive 2014/54/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on measures facilitating the exercise of rights conferred on workers in the context of freedom of movement for workers; andDirective (EU) 2016/681 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the use of passenger name record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime.

Home Office: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals her Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is responsible, along with the Ministry of Justice, for negotiating EU legislation in the Justice and Home Affairs area. The Home Office provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committees, which can be found online.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on over-booking flights chartered for people being forcibly removed from the UK.

James Brokenshire: Charter flights are routinely overbooked to ensure the flight is fully utilised and delivers value for money. We reassess attrition rates for each flight on a monthly basis to ensure the number of individuals booked onto the flight who ultimately do not travel is kept to a minimum.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's practice is for the number of security guards per detainee aboard mass deportation charter flights.

James Brokenshire: Prior to each charter a risk assessment is undertaken for each detainee. This assessment will take into consideration many factors including history of non-compliance and medical issues. This information will be shared with the Home Office’s overseas escort provider, Tascor, who will make a decision on the necessary detainee to escort ratio.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people on removal flights from the UK in the last 12 months had (a) lived in the UK for over 20 years and (b) still had family in the UK when they were removed.

James Brokenshire: This information is not captured in our standard reports. To obtain this would require a manual search of the Home Office Case Information Database. The Information requested could therefore only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse of deportation by chartered flights has been in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Home Office records indicate that the cost of chartering aircraft for removal flights over the past 5 years is as follows: 2011/12 - £8.5 million 2012/13- £13.8 million 2013/14 - £12.7 million 2014/15 - £13.2 million 2015/16 - £9.1 million

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what comparative assessment she has made of the cost to the public purse of deportations on chartered flights and commercial flights.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office conducts a cost comparison between charter flights and commercial flights every 6 months.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many flights for the purposes of deporting people whose asylum or human rights claims were refused were chartered by the Government in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: Home Office charter flights are used to remove individuals who have been refused asylum in the UK, but also individuals who have committed other immigration and criminal offences. Home Office records indicate that there were 45 charters in 2012, 48 in 2013, 46 in 2014, 38 in 2015 and 18 to date in 2016.In addition to charter flights the Home Office also removes people via scheduled commercial services.This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been forcibly removed on chartered flights in 2016 to date; and how many of those people had a criminal conviction in the UK.

James Brokenshire: Home Office records indicate that 718 individuals have been forcibly removed on charter flights in 2016. In at least 194 of these cases the primary reason for return was a criminal conviction in the UK.This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Asylum: Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether it is her Department's policy to prepare for the removal of asylum seekers from the UK before they have exhausted all legal remedies in their claim for asylum.

James Brokenshire: Section 77 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 prevents a person from being removed from the UK whilst a claim for asylum is pending, and section 78 of the 2002 Act has the same effect where an appeal is pending. In both cases this does not prevent the giving of directions for the person’s removal or the taking of any other interim or preparatory action.Where a person has claimed asylum and the claim has been refused preparations for removal can be made. Those preparations may involve gathering relevant information and applying for an emergency travel document.

Offenders: Deportation

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals that had been held in UK prisons were removed on chartered deportation flights in each of the last five years.

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department's policy is on having independent witnesses and monitoring groups aboard mass deportation charter flights.

James Brokenshire: Home Office records indicate that there were at least 1999 foreign nationals who, having been detained in a UK prison, were removed on charter flights in the past 5 years; 367 in 2012, 424 in 2013, 498 in 2014, 486 in 2015 and 224 in 2016 to date.This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.Immigration Enforcement charter flights are regularly monitored by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB).

Visas: China

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK visitor visas were issued in China in the first three months of (a) 2015 and (b) 2016.

James Brokenshire: The number of UK visit visas issued in China in the first three months of a) 2015 and b) 2016 is shown in the following Table:Table 1 - How many UK visitor visas were issued in China in the First three months of a) 2015 & b) 2016.   Year (Jan - Mar)Issued2015108,5862016112,786  Notes Data based on issued month and the combined volumes of visitor visas issued at all posts in China with a UK destination. Applications made to China application centres may be considered at posts outside of China.   This is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to announce the budget for the new Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority; and whether that budget will be expanded in comparison to that of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to reflect the wider remit and powers of the new body.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Police: Bureaucracy

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effect of changes in the number of back office staff on the time spent on administrative duties by frontline police officers in (a) Avon and Somerset and (b) England.

Mike Penning: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Visas: EU Nationals

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to change visa requirements for EU citizens who wish to travel, study and work in the UK.

James Brokenshire: There will be no immediate changes in the circumstances of European nationals who wish to travel, study and work in the UK.EU nationals do not currently need to apply for an entry visa, residence card or a permanent residence card in order to enjoy their free movement rights and responsibilities.

Tobacco: Smuggling

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the illicit trade in tobacco products.

James Brokenshire: Border Force routinely searches for illicit tobacco at the border, acting as one element of a comprehensive cross-government Tobacco Strategy. Border Force targets and seizes illicit tobacco products, referring seizures on tonHM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) for prosecution.In the Budget 2016, it was announced that Border Force would receive an additional £31 million of funding over four years to increase tobacco detection capability by the equivalent of 150 extra officers. HMRC also received additional resources in the summer Budget 2015 to tackle illicit tobacco.

Ministry of Defence

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate his Department has made of overall repair costs of an F35 during its operational lifetime.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the additional cost of repairing the F35 in the USA rather than the UK during its lifetime; and if he will take steps to allow the electronics of the F35 to be repaired in the UK.

Mr Philip Dunne: The UK Lightning Force will be able to conduct all necessary maintenance of the F-35 aircraft at RAF Marham, including electronic equipment, following aircraft arrival in 2018. When components cannot be repaired on the front line and need to be returned to industry, this will be done via a global network of depots. The global repair network will be adopted by all of the F-35 partners and offers significant benefits in terms of economies of scale and operational availability. It does not mean that components specifically have to go back to the US for repair.The UK has a through life cost for the F-35, which includes repair costs. I am withholding this information as it has the potential to undermine the UK's commercial position when negotiating contracts with industry.

Military Aircraft: Ministers

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39746, what the original purchase cost was of the Voyager aircraft that has been adapted.

Mr Philip Dunne: Voyager aircraft are not purchased on an individual basis, but are supplied as part of a 27 year Private Finance Initiative (PFI) service, originally signed in March 2008, to provide the Royal Air Force with an air to air refuelling and air transport capability. The total cost of the Voyager PFI service, which includes a fleet of 14 aircraft and associated infrastructure, personnel, maintenance and training costs over this 27 year period is £10.5 billion.

Shipbuilding

Chris Stephens: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the current timetable is for the completion and publication of the national shipbuilding strategy headed by Sir John Parker.

Mr Philip Dunne: Sir John Parker will report on the national shipbuilding strategy by the Autumn Statement 2016, as stated in the Budget Report 16 March 2016, HC 901, paragraph 2.284.

HM Treasury

Treasury: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Mr David Gauke: HM Treasury is responsible for measures relating to the Economic and Financial Affairs Council. This includes economic policy, taxation issues, financial markets and capital movements, the EU budget, economic relations with countries outside the EU, and coordination of EU positions for international meetings such as the G20, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committees, which can be found online.

Treasury: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Mr David Gauke: EU Directives related to HM Treasury responsibilities awaiting transposition into UK law are as follows: The Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, The Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive, VAT vouchers Directive, Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the Insurance distribution Directive, The Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive, amendment to the Directive on Administrative Assistance and Mutual Cooperation (DAC4)

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Imran Hussain: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the costs of insurance for motor vehicles.

Harriett Baldwin: The Insurance Fraud Taskforce was set up by Government in January 2015 to make recommendations to reduce insurance fraud, ultimately lowering costs for consumers. In January 2016, the Taskforce published 26 recommendations for industry, regulators and others, including 6 for Government. A Written Ministerial Statement was published on 26 May 2016 to announce that the Government accepts each of the recommendations addressed to it. The Chancellor also announced in his 2015 Autumn Statement that the government intends to introduce measures to end the right to cash compensation for minor whiplash injuries. This will remove over £1 billion from the cost of providing motor insurance and the government expects the insurance industry to pass on to consumers an average saving of £40 to £50 per motor insurance policy.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Imran Hussain: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the use of telematic black box electronic recording devices by insurance companies on the cost of car insurance.

Harriett Baldwin: In general, an insurer will make a decision about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the risks posed by an individual. Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who choose to use telematics in their cars. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The Government does not intend to intervene in these commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market. The respective capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers.

Sanitary Protection: Taxation

Danny Kinahan: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the £15 million tampon tax fund has been allocated in the UK.

Mr David Gauke: The Tampon Tax Fund supports women’s charities that are making a significant impact in the lives of women and girls in the UK, including health, wellbeing and education initiatives, and services for vulnerable women. The bids selected represent a range of different initiatives to benefit women across the whole of the UK. In total, 25 charities have been allocated funding so far. This includes £5.2 million of funding allocated to Comic Relief and Rosa, to disburse funding over the coming year to a range of grassroots women’s organisations across the UK, in recognition of the high number of applications received.

Treasury: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Harriett Baldwin: In 2013, HM Treasury outsourced the majority of its procurement and commercial services to Crown Commercial Service. All procurement activity is undertaken reflecting policy direction communicated via Procurement Policy Notes as issued by Cabinet Office, as well as the Public Contract Regulations 2015.

Pensions: Taxation

Alan Brown: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2016 to Question 41169, whether his Department has made (a) an assessment of the potential merits and (b) an estimate of the potential costs of limiting taxation of pensions to the basic rate.

Mr David Gauke: Responses to the Treasury’s recent pensions tax consultation indicated that there was no clear consensus for reform. The Government concluded in its response at Budget 2016 that now is not the right time to undertake fundamental reforms to the pension tax system.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Solar Power: Feed-in Tariffs

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the number of domestic households that had solar panels installed under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme in the period to 31 December 2015 but did not apply for the generation tariff rate applicable at the time of the installation until after the tariff was reduced on 15 January 2016.

Andrea Leadsom: Holding answer received on 29 June 2016



According to Ofgem’s latest installation report for the Feed-in Tariffs scheme, there were five domestic-scale (up to 4kW) solar PV installations that were commissioned prior to 31 December 2015, which subsequently applied for accreditation under the scheme on or after 15 January 2016.

Oil: Exploration

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reasons the Committee of Climate Change report on the compatibility of UK onshore petroleum with meeting UK carbon budgets has not yet been laid before Parliament; and when she plans to publish the Government's response to that report.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government has received the Committee on Climate Change (CCC) report. We are carefully considering the report to ensure it is given the proper consideration it is due. Under the Infrastructure Act 2015, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change is required to lay the CCC report and our response before Parliament together. They will be published as soon as practicable once our response is complete.

Nuclear Power Stations: Decommissioning

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what consultation the Oil and Gas Authority has undertaken on nuclear decommissioning; and whether that authority is subject to the Cabinet Office's Consultation Principles, published in January 2016.

Andrea Leadsom: Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is responsible for decommissioning and clean-up of UK’s nuclear legacy sites. The Oil and Gas Authority has no remit for nuclear decommissioning. ­ All OGA consultations will consider the Cabinet Office’s consultation principles where relevant.

Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the changes in business rates for small solar PV systems as a result of the planned 2017 revaluation on the (a) rate of installation of new systems and (b) maintenance of existing systems.

Andrea Leadsom: Business rates are calculated based on a property’s ‘rateable value’. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining the rateable values in line with existing legislation and case law. I understand that the VOA is currently consulting with the solar industry over how those rateable values will apply to solar installations from 1st April 2017.

Solar Power: Non-domestic Rates

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions her Department has had with HM Treasury on the effect of the planned 2017 business rate revaluation on small solar PV systems.

Andrea Leadsom: Business rates are calculated based on a property’s ‘rateable value’. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for determining the rateable values in line with existing legislation and case law. I understand that the VOA is currently consulting with the solar industry over how those rateable values will apply to solar installations from 1st April 2017.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme: Solar Power

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the proposed removal of solar thermal from the Renewable Heat Incentive on the UK's ability to meet its 2020 renewable heat target.

Andrea Leadsom: In March 2016 we consulted on the removal of support for solar thermal technology from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The contribution from solar thermal to renewable heat generation from the RHI is currently very small. As of 31 May 2016, solar thermal accounted for 0.2% of the total heat generated and paid for under the domestic and non-domestic RHI schemes. This figure is based on RHI deployment data published online: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rhi-deployment-data-may-2016

District Heating

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to her Oral Answer of 19 November 2015, Official Report, columns 813-14, on the district heating sector, what recent assessment she has made of consumer confidence in district heating systems.

Andrea Leadsom: The government supports heat networks because, in the right circumstances and where efficiently operated, they can provide a cheaper, lower carbon heating solution than separate heating systems in individual dwellings. We know that not all existing heat networks meet these conditions. Consumer confidence will be vital to enable the sector to grow. DECC wants to see the development of schemes that do not detrimentally affect their customers and we have made clear that any funding provided through DECC’s Heat Network Investment Project will need to demonstrate this in the consultation document published today www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-heat-networks-investment-project-hnip. We have also been working closely with industry on the development of ‘Heat Trust’, a voluntary consumer protection scheme for heat network customers and on the development of the Heat Network Code of Practice, which sets minimum standards for the design, installation and operation of heat networks. More details can be found on these initiatives here: Heat Trust http://heattrust.org/index.php;Heat Network Code of Practice http://www.cibse.org/knowledge/cibse-other-publications/cp1-heat-networks-code-of-practice-for-the-uk.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent estimate her Department has made of the whole-life (a) cost and (b) carbon footprint of the proposed Hinkley C nuclear power station.

Andrea Leadsom: Payments under the Contract for Difference for Hinkley Point C, like all other CfDs, would be funded through the Supplier Obligation and therefore by electricity consumers. Our current estimates of these costs are in the range of £4bn to £19bn depending on the level of future wholesale prices and operating costs. EDF commissioned a report in 2011 which concluded that, from a full lifecycle perspective, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with 1 kWh of electricity generated from Hinkley Point C would be 4.75 g CO2e/kWh.

Electricity: Prices

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what forecast her Department has made of wholesale electricity prices in each of the next 35 years.

Andrea Leadsom: Projections of wholesale electricity prices up to 2035 are available in Annex M of the 2015 Energy and Emissions Projections, published online by DECC at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/477625/Annex-m-price-growth-assumptions.xls and reproduced below. Projected wholesale electricity price (p/kwh, 2015 prices)YearReference scenarioLow fossil fuel price scenarioHigh fossil fuel price scenario20164.84.05.720175.24.26.320184.83.66.020194.63.36.020204.93.46.220215.43.87.120225.84.17.220236.04.27.520246.54.78.020256.74.88.320266.94.98.320276.95.18.320286.65.07.920296.65.17.820306.65.47.920316.65.48.220326.65.78.320336.35.47.420346.75.57.820356.15.06.8

Radioactive Waste

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress her Department has made on identifying a site for the geological disposal facility for nuclear waste.

Andrea Leadsom: In the 2014 Implementing Geological Disposal White Paper [1] Government set out three initial actions which will provide greater clarity on issues such as geology, development impacts and community representation. Government and Radioactive Waste Management (the developer of a Geological Disposal Facility) are making good progress delivering these initial actions in the short term, with a clear long term goal of delivering safe and secure final disposal of all our radioactive waste. Formal engagement between the developer and potential host communities will start in due course once the Government and Radioactive Waste Management have delivered these initial actions. [1] Further information about the initial actions is in the 2014 Geological Disposal White paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332890/GDF_White_Paper_FINAL.pdf

Civil Nuclear Constabulary and Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the sustainability of private sector funding for the (a) Civil Nuclear Constabulary and (b) Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Andrea Leadsom: The effectiveness and efficiency of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) is the responsibility of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority (CNPA) – a Non-Departmental Public Body of DECC. Representatives from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and EDF are appointed to the CNPA board, as well as representatives of two of the largest NDA sites where the CNC are deployed – Sellafield and Dounreay – ensuring those using the CNC to be directly involved in ensuring the efficiency, capacity and capability of the organisation. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is wholly publicly funded at around £3 billion per year. Income generated from commercial activities is surrendered to HM Treasury. The recent spending round covers both the anticipated reducing profile of income (as commercial activities cease) and circumstances where such reductions occur earlier than planned.

Department of Energy and Climate Change: Freedom of Information

Callum McCaig: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether commercially sensitive information provided to the Oil and Gas Authority and MER UK parties is subject to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Andrea Leadsom: All information held by public authorities, including the Oil and Gas Authority, is subject to requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs). Commercially sensitive information that is confidential in nature, or which could prejudice a commercial interest if released, can be withheld under certain circumstances under the provisions of the Act or the EIRs.

Power Stations

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, which power stations are equipped with black start capability; and how many such stations are in each constituent part of the UK.

Andrea Leadsom: National Grid is responsible for maintaining a Black Start capability for the Great Britain national electricity transmission system and contracts with certain large power stations to provide this service within defined geographic zones.For both security reasons and due to commercial sensitivities, information on which power stations have black start contracts is not publicly available.

District Heating

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to her Oral Answer of 19 November 2015, Official Report, columns 813-14, on district heating systems, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Heat Trust.

Andrea Leadsom: Heat Trust was launched on 25 November 2015. Heat Trust is a voluntary, industry-led scheme established with the aim of setting consumer protection standards for heat network suppliers. Since its launch, Heat Trust has grown with 42 schemes in membership covering over 22,300 connections. All the schemes in membership are named on the Heat Trust website: http://www.heattrust.org/index.php/members For the first time, domestic and micro-business customers on these networks have direct recourse to the independent Energy Ombudsman. 19 customers have used the Ombudsman Service so far. The Ombudsman has upheld two complaints in the customer’s favour and one reached a mutually accepted solution. DECC sits on the Heat Trust Committee, which provides oversight of the scheme. We will continue to monitor the development of Heat Trust closely over the coming months.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support the Government plans to provide to communities in (a) West Cumbria and (b) Somerset (i) during and (ii) after the construction of new nuclear development in those areas.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Imports

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40363, what estimate she has made of the cost of energy imports by the UK in each of the next five years.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) does not produce projections of the cost of energy imports by the UK. The latest available estimate of the cost of UK energy imports is for the year 2015, valued at £37.9 billion.[1] Future costs of energy imports will depend on the volumes traded and also on fuel prices, which are inherently uncertain.  [1] The Office for National Statistics publishes estimates of the value of trade according to internationally agreed classifications (SITC), with category 3 comprising most energy products (coal, crude oil, oil products, gas and electricity). This data is republished by DECC in table G7 of the Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES), and shows estimates of the value of energy trade.

Coal

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to her speech of 18 November 2015 on a new direction for UK energy policy, when the terms of reference of the review into coal will be published; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: We remain committed to consulting on how we will we fulfil the Government’s commitment to phase out unabated coal and will be launching the consultation shortly.

Energy: Exports

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assistance her Department provides to UK-based companies seeking to export energy and fuel; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electricity Generation

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent progress has been made on her Department's market stabilisation Contract for Difference policy; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy Supply

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 27 June 2016 to Question 40279, what forecast the Oil and Gas Authority has made of the proportion of UK energy consumption to be supplied by other countries in each of the next 10 years.

Andrea Leadsom: The Oil and Gas Authority does not produce a forecast of the proportion of UK energy consumption to be supplied by other countries.However, as indicated in the answer to Question 40279, the Oil and Gas Authority publishes projections of UK oil and gas import dependency (defined as net oil and gas imports as a percentage of UK oil and gas demand).[1]These projections for 2016-2026 are given in the following table. YearOil and Gas import dependency (%)201643%201744%201844%201945%202046%  [1] Oil and Gas Authority (February 2016), Production Projections https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/503852/OGA_production_projections_-_February_2016.pdf

Coal: Mining

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on ensuring that the Government's policy on unabated coal is reflected adequately in the National Planning Policy Framework guidelines.

Andrea Leadsom: The Energy National Policy Statements (EN1 – Overarching and EN2- Fossil Fuel Electricity Generating Infrastructure) set out the current position with respect to new unabated coal-fired generating stations. We will be launching a consultation on how we will we fulfil the Government’s commitment to phase out existing unabated coal generation shortly.

Cabinet Office

Permanent Secretaries

Louise Haigh: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the gender was of each person who has (a) applied and (b) made the shortlist for each Permanent Secretary appointment since January 2015.

Matthew Hancock: As the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has recently said, we are considering methods by which we may publish information related to Permanent Secretary appointments in a way that doesn’t compromise individuals’ privacy.

EU Staff: Training

Stephen Timms: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38408, what the budget of the European Fast Stream was in each year since 2010.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 13 June 2016



The European Fast Stream was re-established in 2010 with the dual aim of increasing UK representation in the EU institutions, as well as building EU capability. It has been managed centrally by Civil Service Resourcing since 2014. The budget for the European Fast Stream for each year since 2010 is set out below: Financial YearBudget2010/11£713,0002011/12£713,0002012/13£756,0002013/14£821,0002014/15£771,0002015/16£795,000This is the specific EFS budget, it does not include the employment costs for individuals which are met by central charging to departments who are hosting fast streamers.

Cabinet Office: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

Matthew Hancock: One Directive is awaiting transposition by the Cabinet Office; it is Directive 2014/55/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on electronic invoicing in public procurement.

Cabinet Office: EU Action

John Redwood: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Matthew Hancock: Cabinet Office Ministers are responsible for four EU proposals being negotiated in the Council of Ministers. They are: * Proposal for a Council Decision adopting the provisions amending the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage* Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites.* Proposal for a Regulation of the EP and Council amending Regulation (EC) No 471/2009 on Community statistics relating to external trade with non-member countries as regards conferring of delegated and implementing powers upon the Commission for the adoption of certain measures.* Proposal for a Regulation of the EP and Council on the provision and quality of statistics for the macroeconomic imbalances procedure

Cabinet Office EU Unit: Recruitment

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff the Government plans to recruit to form the new EU Unit.

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 27 June 2016, Official Report, column 23, what the terms of reference are for the new EU Unit.

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister's Oral Statement of 27 June 2016, Official Report, column 23, how much funding has been allocated to the new EU Unit.

Mr Oliver Letwin: A new EU unit will be set up in Whitehall, bringing together officials and policy expertise from across the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Foreign Office and BIS. It will be based in the Cabinet Office and report to the Cabinet on delivering the outcome of the referendum, advising on transitional issues and exploring objectively options for our future relationship with Europe and the rest of the world from outside the EU. The funding for the unit is yet to be determined.

UK Withdrawal from EU

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to consult opposition parties on and during the process of negotiating the UK exit from the EU.

Mr Oliver Letwin: This will be a decision for the next Prime Minister.

UK Withdrawal from EU

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government took before 23 June 2016 to prepare for a potential vote to leave the EU in the referendum.

Matthew Hancock: The Cabinet Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

National Flood Resilience Review

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster continues to chair the National Flood Resilience Review following his appointment to lead the EU Unit.

Mr Oliver Letwin: I continue to chair the National Flood Resilience Review Group. The review’s report is currently being finalised and is due to be published this summer.

Cabinet Office EU Unit

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what selection criteria were used to appoint the head of the EU Unit.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The new Permanent Secretary Head of the Europe Unit requires a strong track record in advising ministers, working closely with international stakeholders and building collaborative relationships to deliver government objectives. The role also requires high level strategic capabilities and the ability to craft and present a strong vision which others can unite behind. The Cabinet Secretary chose to move Oliver Robbins, an existing Permanent Secretary, into this critical position. Oliver Robbins has the experience and skill to meet all the requiremnts of the job having worked in number of critical departments including HM Treasury, Cabinet Office, in the EU Secretariat, and Home Office. As Principal Private Secretary to two Prime Ministers and as Deputy National Security Adviser, he has extensive experience in advising ministers and working with international partners. As Second Permanent Secretary at the Home Office he has set the overall strategy and policy for immigration, an area which will be of key importance during the negotiations of Britain’s exit from the EU.

Independent Commission on Freedom of Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2016 to Question 39672, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs associated with the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock: The majority of the costs (£137,208) covered Secretariat staff costs. The remaining money was spent on services such as IT, oral evidence sessions, legal fees, and other miscellaneous costs.

Independent Commission on Freedom of Information

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether a value for money assessment was carried out prior to the setting up of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock: The Independent Commission was set up in the usual manner.

Cabinet Office EU Unit

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the European and Global Issues Secretariat is part of the new EU Unit; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Oliver Letwin: Oliver Robbins has been appointed as the head of the new EU Unit in the Cabinet Office. He will have responsibility for supporting Cabinet in the examination of options for our future relationship outside the EU, with Europe, and the rest of the world as well as responsibility for the wider European and Global Issues Secretariat.

Cabinet Office EU Unit

Tom Watson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to ensure that attracting trade and investment into the UK will be a key priority of the new EU unit.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The unit will focus on delivering the outcome of the referendum, advising on transitional issues and exploring objectively options for our future relationship with Europe and the rest of the world from outside the EU.

House of Commons Commission

House of Commons: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will take steps to ensure that the House of Commons Commission's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Tom Brake: The House of Commons procurement policies operate within the parameters set out by the UK Public Contracts Regulations 2015.The House has a Sustainable Purchasing Policy which, amongst other things, requires contracts that are particularly suitable for SMEs to be highlighted as so being, contracts to be divided into lots and processes to be as simple and proportionate as possible to encourage SMEs to participate in our competitions. Further, the policy requires contracts that are suitable for Social Enterprises to be identified at an early stage and that market engaged to ensure their participation.More generally, the House supports British industry and agriculture by:Purchasing our goods and services in a way that maximises the ability of SMEs, Social Enterprises and organisations with less bargaining power to win our contracts;Conducting open and competitive tender processes that are accessible to all British suppliers whether small, medium or large;Advertising our contracts on the UK Government procurement website Contracts Finder and the House’s own electronic procurement portal to ensure that there is maximum visibility of our contractual opportunities;Writing specifications of requirements that take into account domestic social, economic and environmental requirements.

Department of Health

North Middlesex Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from (a) the Royal Free London NHS Trust, (b) University College London Hospitals NHS Trust and (c) Barts Health NHS Trust on patient safety of the emergency department at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust.

Ben Gummer: NHS Improvement is working alongside NHS England and the local health and care system to improve patient care in the emergency department at North Middlesex University NHS Trust (NMUH). Ministers in the Department have not received any representations from the trusts listed on patient safety in the emergency department at NMUH.

Department of Health: EU Law

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what EU directives related to his Department's responsibilities are awaiting transposition into UK law.

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.

Jane Ellison: With regards to transposition, the Department is currently finalising the following:― European Qualifications (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2016, which will transpose the relevant sections of the revised Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive into the healthcare regulators’ governing legislation;― Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/787 and certain aspects of the Tobacco Products Directive 2014/40/EU;― Commission Directive (EU) 2015/565 amending Directive 2006/86/EC as regards certain technical requirements for the coding of human tissues and cells;― Commission Directive (EU) 2015/566 implementing Directive 2004/23/EC as regards the procedures for verifying the equivalent standards of quality and safety of imported tissues and cells; and― Elements of the Falsified Medicines Directive 2011/62/EU (safety feature elements). With regards to negotiations, the Department is currently leading on:― Regulations on Medical Devices and In Vitro Diagnostics; and― Amendments to Regulation No 726/2004 laying down Community procedures for the authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines Agency.

Down's Syndrome

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from the Down's Syndrome Alliance on non-invasive prenatal testing and information provided by health professionals about Down's Syndrome to prospective parents.

Jane Ellison: A search of the Department’s ministerial correspondence database has identified two items of correspondence from the Down’s Syndrome Association received since 1 January 2016 on non-invasive prenatal testing and information provided by health professionals about Down’s syndrome to prospective parents. This figure represents correspondence received by the Department’s ministerial correspondence unit only.

Down's Syndrome

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that prospective parents are given adequate and balanced information on (a) living with Down's Syndrome and its effect on families, (b) the life prospects of people with Down's Syndrome and (c) community and other support available for people with Down's Syndrome and their families.

Jane Ellison: If testing during pregnancy indicates the baby will be born with Down's syndrome, the parents should be offered genetic counselling to allow them to discuss the impact of the diagnosis. They may also be offered an appointment to meet a doctor or other health professional who works with children with Down's syndrome, who can also tell them more about the condition and answer any questions they may have. This may include information on the support available. More detailed information for parents is also available from NHS Choices.

Health Services: Females

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the implications for the provision of services of the findings of the report, entitled Hidden Hurt: violence, abuse and disadvantage in the lives of women, published by Agenda in January 2016; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: Officials at the Department met with Agenda in February to discuss the findings of the report, Hidden Hurt. Subsequently, Agenda were able to link with a range of work being undertaken in the Department, NHS England, Public Health England and other Government departments to prevent and to improve the response to extensive violence, abuse and disadvantage faced simultaneously by some women and which requires a concerted response from multiple services.

Chronic Illnesses

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people in England have long-term medical conditions.

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the cost to the NHS of people with long-term health conditions not taking their prescribed medication.

Jane Ellison: It is estimated that over 15 million people in England live with at least one long term medical condition. No estimate has been made of the cost to the National Health Service of people with long term conditions not taking their prescribed medication.

Nurses: International Cooperation

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that UK nursing is effectively represented at (a) the World Health Assembly and (b) other EU and international fora.

Ben Gummer: The World Health Assembly (WHA) is usually attended by the Chief Medical Officer and senior health officials. In the past the Chief Nursing Officer has attended the WHA, though in recent years has not been part of the Department’s delegation. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) is largely focussed on public health and the Chief Nurse at Public Health England works with and contributes to international nursing development with the WHO, including attendance at the WHO Nursing Forum, and also contributes to other global programmes. There is a European Chief Nursing Officers forum which Government chief nurse advisors attend. It is for the Chief Nursing Officer for England to attend this meeting. In her absence one of the other United Kingdom Chief Nursing Officers should attend.

Antibiotics

Kevin Hollinrake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what process his Department plans to evaluate and continue to develop national antibiotic prescribing targets for primary and secondary care.

Jane Ellison: The Department takes advice on the measurement of prescribing levels and the development of objectives for levels of prescribing of antibiotics from the Department’s Health’s Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections as well as the English Surveillance Programme for Antimicrobial Utilisation and Resistance. The English Surveillance Programme on Antimicrobial Use and Resistance, (ESPAUR), was established by Public Health England (PHE) in 2013 in response to the publication of the UK 5 year Strategy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). ESPAUR provides the data on prescribing of antibiotics and levels of resistance to antibiotics in both primary and secondary care that allows the Department to evaluate progress. PHE uses the ESPAUR data to provide ongoing expert advice to NHS England to enable ongoing development of commissioning incentives to encourage healthcare providers to achieve the antibiotic prescribing quality measures recommended by the national expert Advisory Group on AMR and Healthcare Associated Infections for primary and secondary care. The Department’s Policy Research Programme has also commissioned the Imperial National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit to evaluate and research the impact of reduced antibiotic prescribing on hospital admissions and mortality.

Milk: Nutrition

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department made of the health benefits of milk as part of the development of the Government's Eatwell guide.

Jane Ellison: Dairy products are a valuable source of essential nutrients including protein and calcium. Government advice continues to encourage the inclusion of dairy products as part of a healthy, balanced diet for all age groups. This recommendation is depicted in the Eatwell Guide which promotes the consumption of lower fat and lower sugar dairy products to help reduce saturated fat and sugar intakes in the United Kingdom, which are currently above dietary recommendations.

Nurses

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure nurses are consulted on his Department's future policies after the proposed closure of the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions policy unit in his Department.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether (a) staff and (b) external stakeholders were consulted on the proposal to close the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions policy unit in his Department.

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms he plans to put in place to ensure ministers receive impartial nursing advice after the proposed closure of the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions policy unit in his Department.

Ben Gummer: The Department leads the health and care system in England, working closely with a range of organisations on whose expertise it draws, including the nursing and midwifery expertise in NHS England and Public Health England. The Department’s approach to ensuring that nurses are consulted about future policies is to flexibly access professional advice from a wide range of sources, including arms-length bodies, regulators, stakeholders and professional bodies. The Department’s policy teams will establish new networks and relationships with stakeholders and partners and collaborate with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) to ensure systems are in place to secure advice when developing evidence based policy. These changes do not affect the role of the CNO, who as CNO of the Department already advises, and will continue to advise all Ministers and the Department on the range of nursing and midwifery issues. The Department is changing the way it works to deliver its essential work for the Government while achieving efficiency savings. All of the changes we are making through the resulting DH2020 programme are being done transparently and communicated to staff.

Business: Regulation

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of his Department's contribution to the Government's aim of reducing regulatory burdens on business in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16; and if he will make an estimate of the financial effect of those reductions on business.

Jane Ellison: The Department balances its role in protecting public health with the Government’s aim of reducing regulatory burdens on business. In the period in question this resulted in the following net increases/decreases in annual costs to business. YearEquivalent Annual Net Direct Cost to Business2013-14£02014-15£-2.8 million (net benefit to business)2015-16£17.6 million (net cost to business)  The Department is committed to the use of better regulation to achieve our objectives at the least cost to the economy, thereby promoting economic growth and prosperity. When we do regulate, it is only where it is necessary to protect public health and to ensure we provide safe, effective and compassionate care.

East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for (a) paramedics and (b) doctors there are in the East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients waited more than (a) one, (b) two, (c) three and (d) four hours for an ambulance in the East Midlands in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16.

Ben Gummer: The information requested is not held centrally. It may be available directly from East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had in recent months with (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals Trust on potential financial support from his Department to cover the costs of Sherwood Forest's PFI arrangements.

George Freeman: The Department has not received an application for Private Finance Iinitiative financial support associated with the proposed Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust long term partnership. The Department has taken part in a brief initial discussion with Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust’s advisors and NHS Improvement in relation to the process, timescales and other relevant issues associated with the long term partnership. However financial plans for the long term partnership have not yet been put forward to the Department to enable formal financial discussions.

Lung Diseases

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37187, what recent steps his Department has taken to (a) improve the provision of care for patients with and (b) increase funding for research into lung diseases other than chronic pulmonary disease, asthma and lung cancer.

Jane Ellison: To help the National Health Service understand what a good quality service looks like, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence publishes quality standards which define best practice within the topic area. It has recently published quality standards on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (January 2015) and pneumonia (January 2016). The National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including any lung disease. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Mental Health Officers: Pensions

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the extension of the mental health officer pension age to 65 on the health and income of pension scheme members with Mental Health Officer status.

Alistair Burt: Mental Health Officer status is a reserved right for members who joined the NHS Pension Scheme before 6 March 1995 and have continued working in a role that qualifies for this status. The historic rationale for Mental Health Officer status related to working in long stay mental hospitals that no longer exist. It was clearly inappropriate and unnecessary to retain different pension arrangements for staff working in mental health to other National Health Service staff. This was recognised in 1995 when it was removed for new entrants. When the normal pension age (NPA) for new members of the scheme changed to 65 in 2008, the only Mental Health Officers with an NPA of 65 are those who, at the time, chose to transfer to the 2008 section of the scheme. Those who did not transfer retained their Mental Health Officer status. As part of the Hutton reforms to public service pensions, scheme members who on 1 April 2012 were not within 10 years of their NPA moved to the 2015 scheme for future service with an NPA the same as their state pension age. Most Mental Health Officers were within 10 years of their NPA of 55 and so were unaffected. A minority of Mental Health Officers did transfer to the 2015 scheme but all their benefits earned up to that point are fully protected and payable in accordance with Mental Health Officer status rules, so without reduction at 55 and including a calculation to reflect the doubling of the value of some service for accrual purposes. The Working Longer Group, a partnership group of nationally recognised NHS trade unions, NHS employers and health department representatives, was established by the Government to review the implications of the NHS workforce working to a later, raised retirement age. The Group is taking forward its recommendations, accepted by Ministers, to support staff working longer in the NHS.

Health Professions: Training

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of student loans that will be (a) repaid and (b) written off under the proposed new student loan scheme for nursing, midwifery and allied health profession courses.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the savings are to the NHS of the removal of NHS bursaries for students.

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the proposed replacement of NHS bursaries by student loans on the number of students with caring responsibilities enrolling on nursing, midwifery and allied health profession courses.

Ben Gummer: A preliminary Economic Impact Assessment (EIA) and Equality Analysis (EA) was published alongside the public consultation launched on the 7 April 2016. These documents address the proportion of repayment expected, the financial savings to the Government and the impact on students with different characteristics, including caring responsibilities. The Government will assess the responses to the consultation in this area. The consultation document, EIA and EA can be found at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-how-healthcare-education-is-funded Following the closure of the consultation on the 30 June 2016, both the EIA and EA will be reviewed to take into consideration public views. Revised documents will be published alongside the Government response.

Drugs: Prices

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to bring forward proposals for a change to legislation to further regulate the pricing of everyday drugs to the NHS by pharmaceutical companies.

George Freeman: The Department is already referring cases to the Competition and Market Authority (CMA) and to strengthen our work in this area. We are considering putting measures in place to routinely and systematically monitor significant price increases of generic medicines and take action where appropriate, including the possible referral of suspected excessive pricing to the CMA, while taking into account the potential impact of any such action on the availability of medicines.

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) treatment targets and (b) care processes are for people with (i) sickle cell disease and (ii) thalassaemia in each (A) clinical commissioning group area, (B) trust area and (C) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

George Freeman: NHS England has a published service specification for haemoglobinopathy which covers the requirements of commissioned services providing specialised services for patients with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. The specification was developed by the Haemoglobinopathies Clinical Reference Group that covers Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassaemia and other very rare anaemias requiring lifelong transfusion and chelation. The specification reflects that although these are complex disorders they are often grouped together and managed by the same specialist team. It recognises that each condition will have distinct clinical manifestations and treatments. Specialised services for haemoglobinopathy care B08/S/a: https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/b08-speci-serv-haemo.pdf

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities who have received a diagnosis of (a) sickle cell disease and (b) thalassaemia in each (i) clinical commissioning group area, (ii) trust area and (iii) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area; and what proportion of people from such communities were so diagnosed in the most recent year for which figures are available.

George Freeman: The National Haemoglobinopathy Registry maintains a database of patients with red cell disorders (mainly sickle cell disease and thalassaemia major) living in the United Kingdom. Detailed information on the number of patients diagnosed with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia, in England, is available from the National Haemoglobinopathy Registry Report 2013/14. This includes a breakdown of patients on the basis ethnicity, commissioning hub and specialist treatment centre.

Blood

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many apheresis machines are operational in the UK; and where those machines are located.

George Freeman: Apheresis machines are part of the care provided in a number of haematology services including sickle cell and thalassaemia care. NHS Blood and Transplant is one of the main providers of Therapeutic Apheresis Services in England and has the largest installed base of therapeutic apheresis equipment in the National Health Service (32 machine platforms across the country). Additional provision of apheresis services are provided by NHS trusts and other UK Blood Services but NHS England does not currently hold information on this information centrally. Work in relation to these services including the incentivisation of automated exchange through Commissioning for Quality and Innovation will improve the baseline information over the coming year.

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have died as a result of (a) sickle cell disease and (b) thalassaemia in each (i) clinical commissioning group area, (ii) trust area and (iii) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area in the most recent year for which figures are available.

George Freeman: NHS England does not routinely collect this information. Data on adverse events for patients with sickle cell disease and thalassaemia is available from the National Haemoglobinopathy Registry Report 2013/14.

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what clinical outcomes data his Department holds for (a) sickle cell disease and (b) thalassaemia in each (i) clinical commissioning group area, (ii) trust area and (iii) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area.

George Freeman: NHS England requires commissioned providers to submit quality dashboard data on an annual basis. Key indicators include the percentage of patients on the National Haemoglobinopathy Register, those offered an annual review and the proportion of eligible patients offered and receiving neurological screening.

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the at risk population have been screened for (a) sickle cell disease and (b) thalassaemia in each (i) clinical commissioning group area, (ii) trust area and (iii) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area; and what proportion of that population were so screened in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jane Ellison: The Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme is an antenatal population screening programme which is offered to all pregnant women regardless of their risk, and to fathers to be, where antenatal screening shows that the mother is a genetic carrier. The offer to be screened is a joint offer.Screening coverage for sickle cell and thalassaemia is reported by region only and can be accessed below:http://www.phoutcomes.info/search/SICKLE%20CELLScreening data for sickle cell and thalassaemia by NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups over the last three years can be viewed:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/nhs-screening-programmes-national-data-reportingNewborn babies are screened for sickle cell as part of the newborn blood spot screening programme. Data in screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia in the Newborn Blood Spot Programme over the last three years is available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/nhs-screening-programmes-national-data-reporting

Blood Diseases

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what PREMs and PROMs data his Department holds for people with (a) sickle cell disease and (b) thalassaemia.

George Freeman: NHS England does not currently routinely collect this information.

Neurology: Nurses

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NHS trusts have reported difficulty recruiting specialist nurses for patients with neurological conditions in the last three years.

Ben Gummer: Information on how many trusts have reported difficulty recruiting specialist nurses for patients with neurological conditions is not collected centrally. It is for local National Health Service organisations with their knowledge of the healthcare needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses.

Obesity: Alcoholic Drinks

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of alcohol consumption on levels of obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to raise public awareness of the calorie content of alcoholic drinks; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The last Government’s “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England”, October 2011 states that alcoholic drinks can be high in calories and contribute to the energy imbalance that can lead to being overweight and obesity. We welcome the fact that some businesses are choosing to label calories voluntarily on their alcoholic beverages.

Prisoners: Dementia

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what services are currently provided for prison inmates with dementia.

Mark Menzies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current budget is for treating dementia in prisons.

Ben Gummer: Prisoners with dementia should be offered the treatment and care they require, equivalent to that provided to people with similar needs in the community. Health services in prisons are commissioned by NHS England to meet the health needs of prisoners. Every person entering a prison will have an initial health screen at reception where health needs are assessed and where appropriate referrals are made to other services. Prisoners with dementia who also have care and support needs will have these assessed and any eligible care needs will be met by the local authority in which the prison is situated. The budget for treating dementia in prisons cannot be reported separately, as the prison healthcare budget is not disaggregated into specific treatment provision or diagnoses.

Department of Health: Procurement

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department's purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

George Freeman: The Department's purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure United Kingdom suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

Mental Health Services: Children

Amanda Solloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate funding is directed to local mental health bodies to reduce waiting times for child mental health care.

Alistair Burt: In total the Government has made available an additional £1.4 billion over the course of this Parliament to support significant transformation in children and young people’s mental health so that there is easy access to the right support from the right service when it is needed. The key mechanism in delivering this transformation programme, as set out in the Future in Mind report, are the Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) that all clinical commissioning groups covering all local areas have produced. These plans should meet the needs of all the local population and cover the full spectrum of services needed to ensure that children and young people can access services when they need to.  NHS England’s Local Transformation Planning guidance issued in August 2015 and the robust assurance process around it, backed by a programme of regional and national support, are in place to ensure that the additional money will be spent for the purposes intended and that locally determined key performance indicators will be met. NHS England will continue to support local areas to refresh their LTPs to take and merge into the wider Sustainability and Transparency Planning process.

Tuberculosis

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2016 to Question 35139, how many people need to be successfully treated for latent TB infection under the Collaborative TB Strategy's entrant screening programme to prevent one case of active TB.

Jane Ellison: Evidence shows that latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) treatment has a protective efficacy of between 60-90% in preventing progressions to active TB[1]. Without treatment 5-10% of patients with LTBI would progress to active TB. Using these figures, between 11 and 33 persons with LTBI would need to be treated to prevent one case of active TB.  [1]Sharma SK, Sharma A, Kadhiravan T, Tharyan P. Rifamycins (rifampicin, rifabutin and rifapentine) compared to isoniazid for preventing tuberculosis in HIV-negative people at risk of active TB. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2013, Issue 7. Art. No.: CD007545. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007545.pub2

Tuberculosis

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 27 April 2016 to Question 35139, how many people have been tested for latent TB infection in each month since the launch of the Collaborative TB Strategy in January 2015.

Jane Ellison: The information requested is not currently available. The first figures of the numbers of individuals who have been systemically tested and treated for latent tuberculosis (TB) will be published in the Annual TB report in the autumn of this year.

NHS: Drugs

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward regulations to prevent drug manufacturers excessively raising the cost of drugs to the NHS when they are the sole or dominant supplier.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the Competition and Markets Authority to report on its investigation on suspected anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical sector.

George Freeman: The Department is already referring cases to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). To strengthen our work in this area we are considering putting measures in place to routinely and systematically monitor significant price increases of generic medicines and take action where appropriate, including the possible referral of suspected excessive pricing to the CMA, while taking into account the potential impact of any such action on the availability of medicines. The CMA is currently conducting a number of investigations into anti-competitive practices in the pharmaceutical industry. It imposed fines totalling £45 million in one case (currently subject to appeal at the Competition Appeal Tribunal), and expects to reach a final decision by late summer in another. It opened two more cases in March and April 2016 in which it expects to decide in late summer whether there are grounds to take each investigation further. The CMA is also considering evidence of other potential cases of anti-competitive practices in the sector, and may well open further investigations in the coming months. The CMA is independent of Ministers and we cannot interfere in either the substance or the procedures of its decision-making.

Department of Health: Copeland

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times he has visited Copeland constituency in an official capacity in each of the last four years.

Ben Gummer: The Secretary of State for Health and his Ministerial team have not undertaken any visits in an official capacity to the Copeland constituency in the last four years.

West Cumberland Hospital

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he next plans to visit West Cumberland Hospital in an official capacity.

Ben Gummer: I am currently planning to visit the West Cumberland Hospital in the coming months.

West Cumberland Hospital

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many times he has visited West Cumberland Hospital in an official capacity in each of the last four years.

Ben Gummer: The Secretary of State for Health and his Ministerial team have not undertaken any visits in an official capacity to the West Cumberland Hospital in the last four years.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to minimise the number of cancelled operations caused by bed shortages.

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancelled operations were caused by bed shortages in each of the last five years.

George Freeman: NHS England publishes each quarter at the following link the number of elective operations cancelled by hospitals for non-clinical reasons on or after the day of admission: https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/cancelled-elective-operations/cancelled-ops-data/ The reasons for the cancellations are not collected. The National Health Service should do everything it can to reduce cancellations and keep them to an absolute minimum. Where this is unavoidable, patients should receive treatment as soon as possible. This is reinforced by a pledge in the NHS Constitution for all patients who have operations cancelled, on or after the day of admission (including the day of surgery), for non-clinical reasons to be offered another binding date within 28 days, or the patient’s treatment to be funded at the time and hospital of the patient’s choice. The number of cancelled elective operations as a percentage of admissions has remained at less than 1% in each of the last 10 years.

Alcoholic Drinks: Consumption

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of alcohol consumption across the last 25 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The published Table 2.3 Alcohol Clearances per Adult in the HMRC Alcohol Factsheet provides the most recent alcohol consumption data for the last 25 years. The HMRC Alcohol Factsheet is available at: https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/Statistical%20Factsheets/AlcoholFactsheet1013.xls